The Paintings That Revolutionized Art

Book excerpt: Now available in a paperback edition, this beautifully illustrated, delightfully informative collection of one hundred of the world’s most significant paintings covers nearly every period, culture, and style. What makes the Book of Kells such an extraordinary example of illuminated manuscript? Why is Dürer’s self-portrait so iconic? How did Turner’s Rain, Steam, Speed turn the art world on its head? What’s so great about Jasper John’s Flag? And who was Whistler’s mother, anyway? Art history is filled with paintings that shocked, intrigued, enraged, and mystified their audiences—paintings that exemplified the period in which they were created and forever changed the way we think. Here, one hundred examples of these icons of art are presented in beautiful, high-quality reproductions. Each double-page spread features lavish illustrations and details as well as engaging texts that explain why the painting belongs in the pantheon of world changing art.